Judges 19:19-24
Judges 19:19
Yet
there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine
also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy
servants: there is no want of any thing.
The
Levite then tells the old man that he has straw and provender for the asses.
Provender was fodder for feed.
He also had a supply of bread and wine enough for all three of them.
He tells this to the old man because he was basically saying that if
someone took him in, they would not be a burden on the hosts since they had
their own provisions. They just
needed a place to stay where they would be safe from robbers and the weather.
Judges 19:20
And
the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me;
only lodge not in the street.
The
old man gave the Levite a greeting of happiness and told him that even if he did
not have all those necessities that he would be willing to help him out.
He told them not to lodge in the street.
Judges 19:21
So he
brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed
their feet, and did eat and drink.
The
old man really showed them some hospitality.
He took them to his house and also gave of his provender for the asses.
Then after the donkeys were fed they went into his house and washed their
feet which was very refreshing especially after being in the dry heat all day.
This was a custom back in ancient times.
Let a little water, I pray you, be
fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
(Genesis 18:4, KJV) Once their feet were washed they were ready to
eat and drink which they did and have fellowship.
Judges 19:22
Now
as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain
sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to
the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into
thine house, that we may know him.
Here
is probably the reason that the old man took them in and gave them lodging.
As they were eating, sons of Belial had surrounded the house and started
beating at the door. The word
“Belial” means “wicked or worthless.”
These wicked men wanted the old man to bring out the Levite that came
into his house. The term “that we
may know him” refers to having illicit sexual relations with the Levite.
This was a repeat performance of what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The sodomites surrounded the house of Lot and demanded that he bring out
the two men who came to him but they did not know that they were angels.
And they called unto Lot, and said
unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out
unto us, that we may know them.
(Genesis 19:5, KJV) It looks
like Gibeah was a center for sodomite activity.
Judges 19:23
And
the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay,
my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come
into mine house, do not this folly.
The
old man then went to the door and spoke to them and told them not to act as
wickedly as they are doing since the man was his guest it was his responsibility
to protect him. The old man knew
that their intention was literally to rape this man and that is why the old man
called them wicked. The word
“folly” may also be understood as “perverse sin.”
Judges 19:24
Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out
now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto
this man do not so vile a thing.